By ROY HESS | Staff Writer
Harlingen High’s 2-0 bi-district win last week over District 31-6A champion Edinburg North in the Class 6A girls soccer playoffs may have been a surprise to some, but not to the Lady Cardinals.
The Harlingen High girls came into the playoffs as the fourth-place team from District 32-6A. They were trying to reverse their fortunes after finishing 32-6A action with a four-game losing streak.
The Lady Cardinals came alive last Friday at home at just the right time.
“It wasn’t a surprise to us because we already know what we can do,” said Aaliyah Torres, a senior stopper for the Lady Cardinals. “It was all very good to win. We’ve worked hard for it all season, practicing non-stop out here in all kinds of weather. It’s great for our hard work to finally show, especially in a playoff game.”
Added teammate Serena Escobar, a junior midfielder/defender, “It was a good feeling to win, actually, because we care a lot about our coach (Debra Galvan) who might not be coming back (due to her pregnancy) and our seniors. We really want to take them far (in the playoffs) this year and get to the Sweet 16, so it was real important for us to win.”
The Lady Cardinals won their bi-district match thanks to second-half goals by Monique Rodriguez and Escobar.
One of the scores happened on Escobar’s perfectly placed, long-distance free kick from the right side that came in high and caught the upper left corner of the net.
“Before I kicked it, my thought was that I could do it,” Escobar said. “I was thinking, ‘I’ve got this,’ and my coach always boosts me up before I do something like that. She makes me think positive about what I’m going to do. That’s what I did, and it went in. It just felt great to make that shot for everyone.”
Galvan said the return of some previously injured players helped her team.
“Winning was a big confidence booster,” said Galvan, now in her third season as the Lady Cardinals’ head coach. “Now the girls know we can beat that (Edinburg North) team and any others we might face, so we’re ready to go.
“I think having these injured players back makes us a different team,” Galvan added. “It gives us more confidence and helps us control the game more. We’re also able to play some girls back in the positions they’re used to, so it changes the game for us.”
The Lady Cardinals (16-5-1) face their next challenge in the area round of the 6A playoffs against District 30-6A runner-up La Joya Juarez-Lincoln (20-1). The match is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. today at Sharyland High. The winner advances to the third round to play Edinburg High or Laredo Alexander.
“Juarez-Lincoln is a very good team,” Galvan said. “We’ve been reading up about them. They only have one loss. We’re hoping to make it two.”
Captains for the Lady Cardinals are Escobar, Torres and Kay-Lani Vasquez.
“We have a team of girls that have very, very good skills,” said Vasquez, a junior forward/winger. “We all have our individual talents, and it was incredible to see us put them out on the field (in our bi-district win).
“I can’t wait to see what we put out there (against Juarez-Lincoln),” Vasquez added. “It should be interesting, and it should be a good game between two good teams.”
Added teammate Brianna Garza, a senior winger/defender, “I think we have a really high potential. Even without the injured players we were a pretty good team, although our (32-6A) standings didn’t really show it. We just beat a district champion (in Edinburg North), so I think we can do really well.
“About this team, we’re all good friends and we have a really good chemistry together on and off the field,” Garza added. “It’s my senior year, and I’m really happy (playing for the Lady Cardinals).”